Sandlin went on to say that he wants to acquire another tiger, but the state currently will not allow it. He says he plans to file an 'emergency writ' to demand another tiger.

Tony came under media attention after animal rights activists petitioned to removed the tiger from his truck-stop facility.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund, who is currently suing the truck-stop, released a statement regarding the death of Tony.

"The Animal Legal Defense Fund is deeply saddened by the death of Tony, the Siberian-Bengal tiger held captive in the Tiger Truck Stop parking lot in Grosse Tete, Louisiana. For more than seven years, we litigated on many fronts to free Tony, and we are devastated that despite our best efforts, he lived and died caged at a truck stop that could never provide the life he deserved," the statement begins.